JP6489063B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet based on printing conditions.

  When printing of the first copy is completed, the printing process is temporarily stopped, and then the second and subsequent copies are performed after the printing conditions are changed as necessary according to the confirmation result of the first copy by the user. An image forming apparatus is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-27875

  However, in the image forming apparatus described above, the printing process is always paused when the first copy is finished. Therefore, if it is unnecessary to change the printing conditions, the printing process is paused. As a result, the processing time will be increased by the amount of processing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which printing conditions can be changed as necessary during the image forming process.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an image forming unit, an interruption processing unit, a change processing unit, a preview display processing unit, and a restart processing unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a sheet based on predetermined printing conditions. The interruption processing unit, after the image formation processing of the current processing target page, or in units of units including the current processing target page, according to the interruption operation performed during the image forming processing by the image forming unit After the image forming process, the image forming process is temporarily interrupted. The change processing unit changes the printing condition according to a user operation when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit. The preview display processing unit indicates a result of the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interruption processing unit. A preview image corresponding to one of the plurality of pages is displayed. The restart processing unit restarts the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus is provided in which printing conditions can be changed as necessary during the image forming process.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printing screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a setting change screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a density change screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an output result screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of print control processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a confirmation screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen used in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a page replacement process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an operation display unit 10, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, a communication I / F 14, and a storage. Unit 15 and control unit 16.

  The control unit 16 includes an interruption processing unit 161, a change processing unit 162, a restart processing unit 163, a preview display processing unit 164, a change history display processing unit 165, a setting screen display processing unit 166, a notification processing unit 167, and a replacement processing unit. 168. The control unit 16 functions as each of these processing units by executing various processes according to the control program. Moreover, the control part 16 may be provided with the electronic circuit which implement | achieves a part or some processing function of each of these process parts.

  The interruption processing unit 161 temporarily interrupts the image forming process in response to an interruption operation performed during the image forming process by the image forming unit 13 (for example, pressing of the temporary interruption button 21 shown in FIG. 2). For example, the interruption processing unit 161 interrupts the image forming process after the image forming process of the current processing target page or after the image forming process of a unit including the current processing target page.

  The change processing unit 162 changes the printing conditions according to a user operation when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit 161.

  The restart processing unit 163 restarts the image forming process based on the printing conditions after the change by the change processing unit 162.

  The preview display processing unit 164 displays a preview image (showing a result of the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit 162 when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit 161. For example, the preview image 31 shown in FIG. 3 or the preview image 41) shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. For example, the preview display processing unit 164 displays the preview image corresponding to one page among a plurality of pages to be processed. The preview display processing unit 164 may display the preview image corresponding to the page having the largest color image ratio among the plurality of pages to be processed. The preview display processing unit 164 may display only the preview image corresponding to the page having the largest color image ratio among the plurality of pages to be processed. The preview display processing unit 164 may display the preview image corresponding to the page processed immediately before the interruption operation among the plurality of pages to be processed. The preview display processing unit 164 may initially display the preview image corresponding to the page processed immediately before the interruption operation among the plurality of pages to be processed. When the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit 161, the preview display processing unit 164 and the preview image (for example, the preview image 41 shown in FIG. 4) and the change processing unit 162 before the change are displayed. A pre-change preview image (for example, preview images 42 and 43 shown in FIG. 4) indicating the result of the image forming process based on the printing conditions may be displayed at the same time.

  The change history display processing unit 165 indicates a change history indicating which of the plurality of sheets on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 13 the printing condition has been changed after the image forming process by the image forming unit 13 is completed. Information (for example, the change history screen shown in FIG. 5) is displayed.

  The setting screen display processing unit 166 receives a setting change screen (for example, a setting change screen 30 shown in FIG. 3) for accepting a change in printing conditions when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit 161. ) Is displayed.

  The notification processing unit 167 and the replacement processing unit 168 will be described later.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When a printing condition setting operation and a printing start operation are performed on the operation display unit 10, the image forming unit 13 starts printing processing based on the printing conditions set by the printing condition setting operation, and forms an image on a sheet. . Here, a case where the number of pages of a document to be printed is 5 and the number of copies is 10 will be described. While the printing process by the image forming unit 13 is being performed, a printing screen 20 as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the operation display unit 10. The printing screen 20 includes a temporary interruption button 21.

  When the temporary interruption button 21 is pressed while the printing process by the image forming unit 13 is being performed, the interruption processing unit 161 temporarily interrupts the printing process by the image forming unit 13. For example, the interruption processing unit 161 interrupts the image forming process after the image forming process in units including the current processing target page. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the temporary suspension button 21 is pressed while the third page of the third copy is being printed, the suspension processing unit 161 displays the last page of the third copy. The image forming process is interrupted after printing (that is, the fifth page).

  When the image forming process is interrupted by the interrupt processing unit 161, the setting screen display processing unit 166 displays a setting change screen 30 as shown in FIG. 3 on the operation display unit 10. The setting change screen 30 is a screen for accepting a print condition change operation. The change processing unit 162 changes the printing conditions based on a user operation on the setting change screen 30.

  The setting change screen 30 includes a preview image 31, a page switch button 32, a page switch button 33, a density change button 34, a reduction ratio change button 35, a color mode change button 36, a page delete button 37, and a print restart button 38. It is. The page switching button 32, the page switching button 33, the density change button 34, the reduction ratio change button 35, the color mode change button 36, and the page delete button 37 are examples of the change processing key of the present invention.

  The preview image 31 shows the result of the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit 162. The preview display processing unit 164 displays the preview image 31 on the setting change screen 30 and updates the preview image 31 as needed according to the change of the printing condition by the change processing unit 162.

  Note that the preview image 31 displayed on the setting change screen 30 corresponds to one of a plurality of pages to be processed in the image forming process. For example, the preview image 31 displayed on the setting change screen 30 may correspond to a page having the largest color image ratio among a plurality of pages to be processed. This makes it easier for the user to understand the change in the image when the density or color mode is changed. Alternatively, the preview image 31 displayed on the setting change screen 30 may correspond to a page processed immediately before the interruption operation among a plurality of pages to be processed. If the interruption operation is performed immediately after a certain page is processed, there is a high possibility that the printing result of the page is an undesirable result for the user. Therefore, by displaying the preview image 31 corresponding to the page processed immediately before the interruption operation, there is a high possibility that the user's trouble can be reduced.

  The preview display processing unit 164 may switch the preview image 31 in response to the page switching buttons 32 and 33 being pressed.

  The density change button 34 is a button for changing the density (or brightness). The reduction ratio change button 35 is a button for changing the reduction ratio. The color mode change button 36 is a button for changing the color mode (monochrome printing or color printing). The page deletion button 37 is a button for deleting the page corresponding to the preview image 31 (the third page in the example of FIG. 3) (that is, excluding it from the print target). Here, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 when changing the density will be described, and the description of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 when changing other printing conditions will be omitted.

  When the density change button 34 on the setting change screen 30 is pressed, a density change screen 40 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation display unit 10. The density change screen 40 includes a preview image 41, pre-change preview images 42 and 43, density adjustment buttons 44 and 45, a check box 46, and an OK button 47.

  Similarly to the preview image 31, the preview image 41 shows the result of the image forming process based on the printing conditions after the change by the change processing unit 162. The preview display processing unit 164 displays the preview image 41 on the density change screen 40 and updates the preview image 41 as needed according to the density change by the density adjustment buttons 44 and 45. Accordingly, the user can change the density to a desired density by operating the density adjustment buttons 44 and 45 while viewing the preview image 41.

  The setting change screen 30 also displays pre-change preview images 42 and 43 indicating the result of the image forming process based on the pre-change printing conditions by the change processing unit 162. Here, it is assumed that the print processing is changed by the change processing unit 162 immediately after the first copy is printed. For example, the pre-change preview image 43 corresponds to the printing condition at the start time of the image forming process (that is, the time when printing of the first copy is started). The pre-change preview image 42 corresponds to the print conditions after the change by the change processing unit 162 immediately after the first copy is printed. As described above, the preview display processing unit 164 includes the preview image 41 corresponding to the print condition after the change by the change processing unit 162 and the pre-change preview images 42 and 43 corresponding to the print condition before the change by the change processing unit 162. Are displayed at the same time. Thereby, the user can easily grasp how the printing conditions (for example, density) have been changed from the start time of the image forming process to the present time. When the number of changes by the change processing unit 162 increases and all the pre-change preview images do not fit within the screen, the preview display processing unit 164 can scroll the pre-change preview images according to the user's scroll operation. May be displayed.

  The check box 46 indicates whether the density changed on the density change screen 40 is applied only to the page corresponding to the preview image 41 or to all pages to be processed. The user can arbitrarily switch the state of the check box 46 by pressing the check box 46.

  When the OK button 47 on the density change screen 40 is pressed, the density of the page corresponding to the preview image 41 or all pages to be processed is changed, and the setting change screen 30 is displayed again. The preview image 31 displayed on the setting change screen 30 is updated based on the changed density.

  When the print restart button 38 on the setting change screen 30 is pressed, the restart processing unit 163 restarts the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit 162. As a result, the fourth and subsequent copies are printed based on the changed printing conditions.

  When the image forming process is completed (that is, printing of all 10 copies is completed), the change history display processing unit 165 displays a change history screen 50 as shown in FIG. 5 on the operation display unit 10. The change history screen 50 indicates from which of the plurality of sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 13 the printing conditions have been changed. For example, the change history screen 50 shown in FIG. 5 indicates that the printing conditions have been changed after printing the first copy and after printing the third copy. In the change history screen 50 shown in FIG. 5, a reduced image corresponding to the printing condition is displayed so that it can be easily understood which sheet is printed under what printing condition.

  By the way, when the printing of the first copy is finished, the printing process is temporarily stopped, and then the second and subsequent copies are printed after the printing conditions are changed as necessary according to the confirmation result of the first copy by the user. An image forming apparatus to be performed is known. However, in this type of image forming apparatus, the printing process is always temporarily stopped when printing of the first copy is completed. Therefore, if it is unnecessary to change the printing conditions, the printing process is temporarily stopped. The processing time will be increased by the amount that is stopped. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the image forming process is temporarily interrupted in response to the interrupting operation performed during the image forming process, and the user operation is performed. Since the printing conditions are changed accordingly, the printing conditions can be changed as needed during the image forming process.

[Print control processing]
Next, an example of the procedure of the print control process executed by the control unit 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, steps S1, S2,... Represent processing procedure (step) numbers executed by the control unit 16. The print control process is started, for example, when the print start operation is detected.

<Step S1>
First, in step S1, the control unit 16 starts an image forming process by the image forming unit 13 based on printing conditions set in advance according to a user operation. Then, the control unit 16 displays a printing screen 20 as shown in FIG. 2 on the operation display unit 10.

<Step S2>
In step S2, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the interruption operation has been performed. If it is determined that the interruption operation has been performed (S2: Yes), the process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined that the interruption operation has not been performed (S2: No), the process proceeds to step S9.

<Step S3>
In step S <b> 3, the control unit 16 temporarily interrupts the image forming process by the image forming unit 13.

<Step S4>
In step S4, the control unit 16 displays a setting change screen 30 as shown in FIG.

<Step S5>
In step S5, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the change operation has been performed. If it is determined that the change operation has been performed (S5: Yes), the process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if it is determined that the change operation has not been performed (S5: No), the process proceeds to step S7.

<Step S6>
In step S6, the control unit 16 changes the printing conditions in accordance with the changing operation.

<Step S7>
In step S7, the control unit 16 determines whether or not a restart operation has been performed. The restart operation is, for example, pressing of the print restart button 38 on the setting change screen 30. If it is determined that the resuming operation has been performed (S7: Yes), the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if it is determined that the resuming operation has not been performed (S7: No), the process returns to step S5.

<Step S8>
In step S <b> 8, the control unit 16 restarts the image forming process by the image forming unit 13.

<Step S9>
In step S <b> 9, the control unit 16 determines whether or not the image forming process by the image forming unit 13 is completed. If it is determined that the image forming process is completed (S9: Yes), the process proceeds to step S10. On the other hand, if it is determined that the image forming process has not been completed (S9: No), the process returns to step S2.

<Step S10>
In step S <b> 10, the control unit 16 displays a change history screen 50 as shown in FIG. 5 on the operation display unit 10. Then, the print control process ends.

  The process of step S3 is executed by the interruption processing unit 161 of the control unit 16. The process of step S4 is executed by the setting screen display processing unit 166 of the control unit 16. The process of step S6 is executed by the change processing unit 162 of the control unit 16. The processing in step S8 is executed by the restart processing unit 163 of the control unit 16. The process of step S10 is executed by the change history display processing unit 165 of the control unit 16.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the image forming process is temporarily interrupted in response to the interrupting operation performed during the image forming process, and the user operation is performed. Since the printing conditions are changed accordingly, the printing conditions can be changed as needed during the image forming process.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, a setting change screen 30 as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed in response to the interruption operation, but the present invention is not limited to this. In another embodiment, the setting screen display processing unit 166 sets different setting items depending on the page processed immediately before the interruption operation immediately after the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interruption processing unit 161. The setting change screen 30 may be initially displayed. For example, when the page processed immediately before the interruption operation is a color page, the setting screen display processing unit 166 first displays the setting change screen 30 including the color mode change button 36 to perform the interruption operation. When the page processed immediately before is a monochrome page, the setting change screen 30 that does not include the color mode change button 36 may be displayed first. For example, when the page processed immediately before the interruption operation is the last page, the setting screen display processing unit 166 first displays the setting change screen 30 including a setting button related to the stapling function, and the interruption When the page processed immediately before the operation is a page other than the last page, a setting change screen 30 that does not include a setting button related to the stapling function may be displayed first. Alternatively, a setting button that is not initially displayed may be displayed by pressing a detailed setting button.

  In the present embodiment, after the image forming process is temporarily interrupted, the image forming process is resumed in response to the restart operation being performed, but the present invention is not limited to this. . In another embodiment, after the image forming process is temporarily interrupted, the image forming process is resumed based on the changed printing condition or the image forming process is changed based on the changed printing condition. It may be configured such that the user can arbitrarily specify whether to start over from the beginning (that is, from the first copy). Alternatively, the user may arbitrarily change the number of remaining copies when the image forming process is resumed.

  As described above, when the image forming process is restarted from the beginning based on the changed printing conditions, all already printed sheets are wasted. Therefore, in order to eliminate such waste as much as possible, when the image forming process is resumed, a page replacement process may be executed as necessary. Hereinafter, the page replacement process will be described.

[Page replacement process]
When the print restart button 38 on the setting change screen 30 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed, the control unit 16 displays a confirmation screen 60 as shown in FIG. When the No button 62 is pressed on the confirmation screen 60, the image forming process is resumed from the next.

  On the other hand, when the Yes button 61 is pressed on the confirmation screen 60, the notification processing unit 167 displays a notification screen 70 as shown in FIG. 8 on the operation display unit 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first sheet supply unit 81 that supplies sheets to the image forming unit 13 and a second sheet supply unit 82 that is different from the first sheet supply unit 81. Yes. The notification processing unit 167 prompts the user to set a sheet on which an image has already been formed by the image forming unit 13 in the second sheet supply unit 82, for example, by displaying the notification screen 70.

  When the start button 71 on the notification screen 70 is pressed, a page replacement process is executed. As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a first sheet discharge unit 84 that discharges a sheet on which an image is formed, and a second sheet discharge unit 85 that is different from the first sheet discharge unit 84. The sheet switching destination can be changed by the path switching mechanism 83.

  The replacement processing unit 168 sequentially discharges the sheets set in the second sheet supply unit 82 to the first sheet discharge unit 84 (an example of the sheet discharge unit of the present invention) and sets the sheets in the second sheet supply unit 82. A part of the sheet that has been printed is replaced with the sheet on which the image is formed from the first sheet supply unit 81 through the image forming unit 13 and discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84.

  Hereinafter, when the first to third sheets have been printed, the image forming process is temporarily interrupted, and the change processing unit 162 changes the printing conditions for the second and fourth pages. The operation of the replacement processing unit 168 will be specifically described.

  The replacement processing unit 168 supplies the printed sheets set in the second sheet supply unit 82 to the conveyance path in the image forming apparatus 1 in order from the first page of the first copy. Here, since the printing condition is not changed for the first page, the replacement processing unit 168 displays the printed sheet of the first page set in the second sheet supply unit 82 as shown in FIG. The sheet is discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84.

  On the other hand, since the printing conditions for the second page are changed, the replacement processing unit 168 sets the second printed sheet set in the second sheet supply unit 82 as the unnecessary sheet as the second sheet. It discharges to the discharge part 85. Further, the replacement processing unit 168 supplies the new sheet set in the first sheet supply unit 81 to the image forming unit 13, and the sheet on which the image is formed based on the changed printing condition is supplied to the first sheet. It discharges to the discharge part 84. As a result, the second page sheet printed based on the pre-change printing condition is replaced with the second page sheet printed based on the post-change printing condition.

  Subsequently, the third printed sheet set in the second sheet supply unit 82 is discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84 in the same manner as the first page.

  Further, the fourth printed sheet set in the second sheet supply unit 82 is discharged as an unnecessary sheet to the second sheet discharge unit 85 in the same manner as the second page. Further, the image of the fourth page is printed on the new sheet set in the first sheet supply unit 81 based on the changed printing condition, and the sheet is discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84. As a result, the fourth page sheet printed based on the pre-change printing condition is replaced with the fourth page sheet printed based on the post-change printing condition.

  Further, the fifth printed sheet set in the second sheet supply unit 82 is discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84 in the same manner as the first and third pages.

  In this way, when the page replacement process for the first copy is completed, the page replacement processes for the second and third copies are sequentially performed in the same manner.

  When the first to third page replacement processes are completed, the fourth and subsequent image forming processes are started, and the fourth and subsequent sheets are discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84.

  By the page replacement process as described above, only the sheet printed under the printing conditions before the change is discharged to the second sheet discharge unit 85 as an unnecessary sheet. On the other hand, all the pages of all pages printed under the changed printing conditions are discharged to the first sheet discharge unit 84 in the original order. Therefore, the generation of useless sheets can be minimized. In addition, it is possible to save the user's trouble of replacing pages.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Operation display part 11 ADF
12 image reading unit 13 image forming unit 20 printing screen 30 setting change screen 40 density change screen 50 change history screen 60 confirmation screen 70 notification screen 81 first sheet supply unit 82 second sheet supply unit 83 path switching mechanism 84 first sheet Discharge unit 85 Second sheet discharge unit

Claims (9)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on predetermined printing conditions;
In response to an interruption operation performed during the image forming process by the image forming unit, after the image forming process of the current processing target page, or after the image forming process of the unit including the current processing target page, the An interruption processing unit for temporarily interrupting the image forming process;
A change processing unit that changes the printing conditions in response to a user operation when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit;
Of the plurality of pages to be processed, the result of the image forming process based on the print condition after the change by the change processing unit when the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interruption processing unit. A preview display processing unit for displaying a preview image corresponding to one page;
A resumption processing unit for resuming the image forming process based on the printing conditions after the change by the change processing unit;
A first sheet supply unit for supplying a sheet to the image forming unit;
When the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interruption processing unit, a sheet on which an image has already been formed by the image forming unit is set in a second sheet supply unit different from the first sheet supply unit. A notification processor that prompts the user to
When the image forming process is resumed by the resume processing unit, a first sheet discharge unit for a sheet corresponding to a page whose printing condition is not changed by the change processing unit among the sheets set in the second sheet supply unit The sheet corresponding to the page whose printing condition is changed by the change processing unit among the sheets set in the second sheet supply unit is different from the first sheet discharge unit. A replacement process for discharging the sheet to the section and discharging the sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming section to the first sheet discharging section based on the printing conditions after the change by the change processing section instead of the sheet And
An image forming apparatus comprising: A plurality of change processing keys for changing the printing conditions are displayed together with the preview image.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The preview display processing unit displays the preview image corresponding to a page having the largest color image ratio among a plurality of pages to be processed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The preview display processing unit color-displays only the preview image corresponding to the page having the largest color image ratio among the plurality of pages to be processed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. The preview display processing unit displays the preview image corresponding to a page processed immediately before the interruption operation among a plurality of pages to be processed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The preview display processing unit initially displays the preview image corresponding to a page processed immediately before the interruption operation among a plurality of pages to be processed;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. When the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit, the preview display processing unit is a result of the image forming process based on the preview image and the printing condition before the change by the change processing unit. Simultaneously with the pre-change preview image showing
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A change history display process for displaying change history information indicating from which of a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed by the image forming unit the printing condition is changed after the image forming process by the image forming unit is completed. Further comprising
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Immediately after the image forming process is temporarily interrupted by the interrupt processing unit, a setting screen display processing unit that initially displays a setting change screen including different setting items depending on the page processed immediately before the interrupting operation. In addition,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images